Affordable Care Act

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DEFINITION of 'Affordable Care Act'

A federal statute signed into law in March 2010 as a part of the healthcare reform agenda of the Obama administration. Signed under the title of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the law included multiple provisions that would take effect over a matter of years, including the expansion of Medicaid eligibility, the establishment of health insurance exchanges and prohibiting health insurers from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

INVESTOPEDIA EXPLAINS 'Affordable Care Act'

At the time of its enactment, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the new law would reduce the federal deficit by nearly $145 billion in the first 10 years and between .25% and .5% of GDP thereafter. The costs associated with the new amendments are offset by numerous taxes, such as increased taxes on items and services such as eye glasses, hearing aids and indoor tanning.